Amritsar: BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) leader Uma Bharti today (Sep 25, 2004) welcomed the "purification" and "Indianisation" of Left parties as demonstrated by their opposition to appointment of outside experts in the consultative bodies of the Planning Commission, but said they should now go further and demand removal of Sonia Gandhi as UPA (United Progressive Alliance) chairperson.

"Left parties ka bharatiyakaran ho gaya hai. Unka hriday badal gaya hai (The Left parties have been Indianised. Their hearts have changed)," she said addressing a rally at the conclusion of her 'Tiranga Yatra' in Amritsar.

Bharti said the Left parties should now take their "shudhikaran (purification)" and patriotic feelings "a step further" and demand removal of "foreigner" Congress president Sonia Gandhi from the post of UPA chairperson.